Middlesbrough Council wrote to residents in July with details of changes to how to register to vote but some of the letters contained incorrect information and the letters had to be reprinted.

But several people have now contacted The Gazette saying there are errors in the new letters referring to two particular sentences in different sections: “Your name and address will not be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be added” and “Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed.”

But a council spokesman said there is no incorrect information in the new letters.

And he added that the first paragraph “refers to the specific individual who is being written to and will either say ‘will be included’ or ‘will not be included’ depending on the preference they have already stated”.

He added that the second paragraph explains the general principle of the open register, which is that newly registered voters automatically go on unless they opt out.

The spokesman added that the letter is based on a nationally prescribed template and the confusion is not confined to Middlesbrough.

The issue has been raised by Middlesbrough Council and others with the Electoral Commission and the Cabinet Office.

Both organisations have stated that the national template and wording must be used, he added.